Mars buys Iams

LEIPSIC — Mars, Incorporated announced earlier this month that it has
successfully completed its acquisition of the Iams®, Eukanuba® and
Natura® brands in North America, Latin America and other select
countries from The Procter & Gamble Company. This follows an
agreement announced by the companies in April 2014 and receipt of all
necessary regulatory approvals.

Iams® has been in production in
Leipsic since 1998. There are currently 150 employees at the plant
working for Proctor and Gamble Iams®. The plant also has an additional
150 employees employed under the Exel Company. The Exel Company is a
third-party logistics company that provides consulting, warehousing and
transportation services to companies.

The Leipsic company has
undergone four expansions since it opened including a 150,000 square
foot addition $23 million expansion in 2004 and an $8.8 million 100,000
square foot warehouse expansion in 2009.

Paul Iams, an animal
nutritionist, founded the Iams Company in 1946. His philosophies created
very strong foundations for these remarkable brands which will now
complement the existing Mars Petcare portfolio.

Mars also
announced it will exercise the option to purchase P&G’s pet food
business in some parts of Asia Pacific, Middle East and Africa,
including Australia, Japan and Singapore. This move reinforces the
company’s strategic intent to build its presence in emerging markets and
will enable Mars Petcare to meet the needs of more customers and pets
around the world. Mars expects that the close for these additional
businesses may take up to around a year, subject to regulatory
approvals.

The Iams®, Eukanuba® and Natura® brands will be part of
Mars Petcare and are strategic additions that complement the company’s
robust pet care portfolio. They join stable mates Pedigree®, Whiskas®,
Royal Canin®, Banfield® and Nutro®.

“We are proud to welcome the
Iams®, Eukanuba® and Natura® brands and the new associates who are
joining us today,” said Todd Lachman, President of Mars Petcare. “These
brands are high quality and well respected by customers, vets and pet
owners, and we believe they will thrive under our leadership. Together,
we will be well positioned to take advantage of the fast growing pet
care market, and satisfy the needs of more customers and pets around the
world.”

Mars Petcare, the largest business for Mars,
Incorporated, is one of the world’s leading pet food and veterinary care
providers and employs more than 35,000 Associates across 50 countries.